Compact disk package and method of assembling same

ABSTRACT

A storage package for a recording medium configured to resemble a book includes a paper board panel releasably attached to first and second plastic, recording medium-holding components, each including a planar surface having means on one face for holding a recording. Upstanding wall portions on one of the components nest within the corresponding wall portions of the other component when the components are assembled together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/284,413, filedOct. 31, 2002 now U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 11/075,166.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a closable and latchablestorage package for a recording medium and, more particularly, to apackage comprising a paperboard cover assembled to multiple plastic discholders.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of planar discs are in use at the present time to recordand store information which is to be retrieved by various means, such asby optical or magnetic means. Typical of such discs are compact discs inwhich information is digitally recorded by use of a laser beam and thenread optically by a laser beam. Such discs are used to record audioinformation, such as musical renditions, video information such asvisual images and digital information for use as read only and othermemories for use in various applications, such as computer applications.In most instances, at the present time, such discs are sold withinformation already recorded thereon. In other applications, such discsare sold in blank form and are used by the customer to recordinformation thereon. In the latter case, for example, optical discs aresold for use as computer storage media and are used in hard disc storagesystems. As used herein, the term compact disc or CD is intended toencompass all such discs, whatever their size, for all known or proposeduses.

Compact discs containing laser recorded information are typicallypackaged in injection molded plastic enclosures designed to hold one ormore CDs for protecting the discs during storage and shipment.Enclosures commonly used at the present time, such as the well known“jewel box,” comprise a three piece assembly consisting of a base orbottom element, an insert or tray in the base/bottom element forpositioning and supporting the disc in the base/bottom element, e.g., bya center projection (commonly referred to as a “rosette”) which engagesthe periphery of the aperture in the center of the disc, and a lid orcover which is hinged to the base/bottom element and is closed thereonafter the disc is mounted therein on the tray. Other enclosures utilizeonly two pieces, omit the tray, and position and support the disc viathe center projection directly on the base/bottom element. The enclosureis, typically, at least partially transparent and graphics relating tothe disc and containing trademark and sales promotional information areusually inserted in such a manner as to be visible through theenclosure.

Except for the printed matter inserted therein, the “jewel box” isentirely plastic. For this reason, as well as because the typical jewelbox requires three separately injection molded elements which must bemanually assembled, the use of this type of enclosure is relativelyexpensive. Moreover, the use of such an enclosure is believed to beecologically unacceptable by many because the plastic isnon-biodegradable and, in view of the huge volume of such enclosures inuse today, the disposal of these enclosures poses either a real orpotential environmental problem. One solution to both of these problemshas been the development of hybrid packages comprising both paper boardand plastic components. These hybrid packages provide a CD package whichis suitable and attractive for display, sale and storage of compactdiscs, yet which is both simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812—Kosterka discloses a compact discpackage formed from a prescored, preprinted unitary blank and at leastone injection molded plastic compact disc holder or tray adhesivelyadhered to one segment of the blank, the blank being adapted to foldalong fold lines to position a blank segment over the top of the discholder to sandwich it, in book style, between the segment to which it isadhered and the overlying segment. The problem with this type ofarrangement is that the book frequently opens and provides littleprotection for the CD content therewithin. In addition, the Kosterkahybrid packaging typically gives the visual appearance of inexpensivepackaging, which may not be appropriate or desirable for some of themore expensive visual productions provided on DVD.

In an effort to improve the hybrid packaging and make it moresubstantial, the compact disc holder, instead of being formed merely asa tray, was formed as an unhinged base and cover which were designed tobe separately mounted on facing segments of the blank, on opposite sidesof a spine, such that, when the book was closed about the spine, thecover aligned with the base and latched therewith to maintain the discholder and book closed in order to afford substantial protection to theCD therewithin. Unfortunately, as the book was opened and closed onmultiple occasions the cardboard blank stretched and the originalalignment between the base and lid became difficult to achieve withconsistency, with the result that it became increasingly difficult toreclose and relatch the disc holder.

Still another effort to solve the problems associated with producing ahigh end hybrid packaging involved vacuforming a unitary, side-by-sidestorage container base and lid interconnected by a spine and injectionmolding plastic CD trays designed and dimensioned to be inserted intoand adhesively adhered within the vacuformed base and lid inconventional manner. The open vacuformed container housing the injectedmolded trays is adhesively bonded along its outer surface to apaperboard covering or blank which resembles the covers of a book. Whenthe resulting book is first closed, the vacuformed case breaks along thecreases which attach the spine to the base and lid such that, viewingthe book in its open orientation, the vacuformed container appears to bethree separate pieces separated by paperboard. Unfortunately, the breaksdo not always occur neatly, frequently making for an aestheticallyunpleasing product. Moreover, the container is impractically expensiveto manufacture. First, it is primarily a plastic container, containing aplastic vacuformed skeleton reinforced by injection molded plastic traysadhesively bonded thereto. Second, assembly requires not less than fourseparate and distinct steps, including vacuforming the container,injection molding the trays, adhesively bonding the trays within thevacuformed base and lid and adhesively bonding the paperboard book-likeblank to the exterior surface of the vacuformed container

It should be apparent, therefore, that efforts to date directed athybrid packaging suffer from one or more shortcomings which make theresulting CD packaging either unsatisfactory for repetitive use orinsufficiently durable to provide long term protection for the CDcontent of the package. This is because prior art hybrid packaging is,typically, either uneconomical to manufacture and/or unreliable in useand/or does not function to provide adequate protection to the CDcontent of the container, as by readily re-closing and re-latching.Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple, inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to use hybrid CD package which is reliable for useover the long term.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide ahigh end CD package, configured to resemble a book, comprising twoplastic CD trays which can easily be manufactured by injection moldingand a paper board cover, where the holder and cover may be readilyassembled to provide a CD packaging characterized by consistent trayalignment and latching.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedplastic and paperboard CD package which is simple, inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved CDpackage comprising two plastic CD trays adhesively bonded to apaperboard blank in such a manner that the trays remain in alignment andsnap fit together to the closed position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodof assembling an improved CD package comprising two plastic CD traysadhesively bonded to a paperboard blank wherein the paperboard blank isunscored, unfolded and uncreased prior to adhesive bonding and isstretched and folds/creases are formed therein as the blank isadhesively bonded to the plastic CD trays.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with thepresent invention by providing a storage package for a recording medium,such as a CD, comprising a paper board component attached to twoplastic, recording medium-holding components, configured to resemble abook, the package including:

a paper board component defining a flat panel having a pair of opposedlateral sides and a pair of opposed transverse side which are generallyperpendicular to said lateral sides, said panel including a first panelarea for attachment of a first plastic, recording medium-holdingcomponent and a second panel area for attachment of a second plastic,recording medium-holding component, said first and second componentsbeing separated by a third panel area for defining the spline of thebook;

first and second plastic components for receiving and holding arecording medium, each of the components defining:

a generally planar surface having opposite faces for receiving andmaintaining a recording medium on a first face thereof, the planarsurface having marginal edges defining the peripheral extent of thesurface;

upstanding wall portions on the planar surface proximate the marginaledges of the planar surface, the wall portions on the second componentbeing positioned a greater distance inside the marginal edges of theplanar surface than on the first component such that, when thecomponents are brought together into first face to first face proximity,the wall portions of the second component nest within the wall portionsof the first component with the outside of the wall portions of thesecond component immediately adjacent the inside of the wall portions ofthe first component, the separation between the planar surfaces of thecomponents being determined by the height of the wall portions; and

means at corresponding locations on the wall portions of the first andsecond components for releasably engaging and latching the first andsecond components together in an assembled configuration;

the paperboard component being tautly stretched and adhesively bonded tothe assembled components with the creases defining the spline of saidbook being formed in said paperboard component during adhesive bonding.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofassembling the storage package for a recording medium characterized bythe steps of assembling the first and second components into anassembled configuration and tautly stretching the paper board panelabout and adhesively bonding the panel to the assembled components alongthe faces of the planar surfaces opposite the first face of eachcomponent. The paper board panel is, desirably, unscored, uncreased andunfolded prior to adhesive bonding the panel to the assembledcomponents. Thus, the creases defining the spline of the book are formedin the paper board panel during adhesive bonding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, viewed from above, of one embodiment ofthe improved CD package of the present invention in its open position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a first element of the plastic CD holdercomponent of the improved CD package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the element of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the second element of the plastic CD holdercomponent of the improved CD package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the element of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view showing the juxtaposition of the first andsecond elements of the plastic CD holder component when the same areassembled and snap fit together.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a blank for the paper board component ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a blank for the preferred embodiment of thepaper board component of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an intermediate assembly perspective view of the paperboardcover and the assembled CD holder immediately prior to adhesivelybonding these components into the improved CD package of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 in which there is illustrated an improved CDpackage 10. The package includes two injection molded plastic trays 12,13 and a paper board cover 14 which is, in the preferred embodiment,adhesively attached to each of the trays 12, 13 in accordance with thepresent invention in such a manner that the plastic and paper componentsform a CD package, configured to resemble a book, which presents noalignment problems between the trays when the package is repetitivelyopened and closed

Tray 12 is a rectangular, relatively thin plate-like member which isformed with a circular recess 20 defined by a circular side wall 22extending downwardly from surrounding planar surface 24 to base 26. Arosette 28 for gripping a CD and holding it within recess 20 is moldedon raised CD seat 30 which, itself, is molded on base 26. Rosette 28 is,typically, a vertical cylindrical section including radially outwardlybiased gripping fingers for engaging the central opening of a CD placedthereon. Raised seat 30 provides a circular surface on which the annulararea of the CD which is immediately adjacent the central disc aperturecan be supported above the base 26. This area of the CD typicallycontains no recorded information and, therefore, contact between the CDin this area and the raised seat will not damage the CD. The CD may alsobe peripherally supported at its outer edges by peripheral shelf 32formed in circular side wall 22. The outer edges of a CD also,typically, contain no recorded information in order to provide furtherassurance that contact of the recorded areas of the CD with the basewill be avoided. Planar surface 24 of tray 12 includes diametricallyopposed finger wells 34 which communicate with the base 26 of recess 20to facilitate a user removing a recording medium from the recess 20.Recess 22, rosette 28 and finger wells 34 are all well known in the CDpackaging art and need not be described in detail herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1–5, two opposite lateral sides 36, 38, oneconnecting transverse side 40 and upper and lower spaced segments of theopposite transverse side 42 of tray 12 have upstanding wall portions 36a, 38 a, 40 a, 42 a for defining a spacing rim just inside the marginaledges of the tray periphery. As will be seen, when tray 12 is assembledto corresponding tray 13, the wall portions assure a sufficient spacingbetween a CD mounted on the rosette 28 of tray 12 and a CD mounted onthe rosette 28 of tray 13 that neither of the CDs become damaged bycontact with the other. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 44project inwardly from the inside of the wall portions of tray 12 atspaced locations therealong for engaging with corresponding protrusions44 projecting outwardly from the outside of the wall portions on tray 13to permit the trays 12, 13 to snap fit together for defining an openableand closable CD packaging.

Tray 13 is a relatively thin plate-like member which is substantiallysimilar to tray 12. The configuration and elements of tray 12 applyequally to tray 13 and, therefore, like reference numerals denote likeparts. The major difference between the trays is that the upstandingwall portions of tray 13 are positioned a greater distance inside themarginal edge of the tray than on tray 12 such that, when assembled, thewall portions of tray 13 nest within the wall portions of tray 12 withthe outside of the wall portions of tray 13 immediately adjacent theinside of the wall portions of tray 12. This is most easily seen in FIG.6. In this way protrusions 44 on the inside of the tray 12 wall portionsengage correspondingly located protrusions 44 on the outside of the tray13 wall portions to permit the trays to snap fit together for forming aCD package which can be maintained in the closed position.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the paper board 14 comprises a plurality ofpaper panels which are desirably formed from a presized, pre-printedunitary blank 50. In one embodiment of the invention, blank 50 is anunscored, unfolded, uncreased blank onto which the plastic trays areadhesively bonded in the manner hereinafter described to provide, whenthe CD packaging is in the open position, a first panel 52 and a secondpanel 54 separated by a spline panel 56. Most importantly, is that thesepanels are undefined by fold lines or creases prior to adhesivelybonding the blank to the trays. In this embodiment the blank, i.e., thefirst panel and second panel are single ply although, in some instances,it may be desirable for one or both of these panels to be two ormultiple ply. For example, as shown in phantom in FIG. 7 either or bothof the first and second panel areas may be formed as a two ply panel byproviding one or more additional rectangular section 60, 62 ofsubstantially the same size as the panel area it is to reinforce andjoined along one side thereof by fold line or crease 64, 66. Sections 60and/or 62 may be folded over crease 64, 66 and glued to the adjacentsection 52, 54 to form a two ply panel which may be desirable foraesthetic reasons or to enhance the rigidity of the cover for protectingthe CD within the package. Moreover, while a two panel embodiment of aCD package is illustrated and described, it will be appreciated thatsimilar packages utilizing the principles of the present invention maybe formed from a greater number of panels by the inclusion of optionalpanels (not shown) intermediate the base and cover panels. Blank 50 istypically printed with graphics on the outside of the first and secondpanel areas and on the outside of the spline area. If trays 12, 13 areformed of transparent plastic, then it may be desirable to print theinside of the panel areas as well.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, to assemble the paper board 14 andtrays 12, 13, in a preferred embodiment, first and second trays 12, 13are assembled to each other by causing the rosettes 28 to face eachother with partial wall segments 42 of tray 12 aligned with thecorresponding segments 42 of tray 13. As the rosettes are pressed towardeach other, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the wall portions of tray 13slide just inside the corresponding wall portions of tray 12 and theprotrusions on like wall portions engage to maintain the assembled CDpackage in the closed position. Blank 50 may be used in its single plyunaltered condition, as shown in FIG. 7. However, it is preferred toadhesively apply paperboard reinforcing sheets 70 to each of the firstand second panel areas and, thereafter, to apply a spine reinforcingstrip 72 overlying the spine area and, desirably, the spine-adjacentmargins of the panel reinforcing sheets 70.

The assembled trays are supported on one of the lateral sides 36, 38with the paperboard blank 50, prepared as shown in FIG. 8, surroundingthe assembled trays in preparation for being adhesively bonded thereto.Desirably, the edge of the assembled tray package corresponding totransverse side 42 serves as the spine of the to-be-assembled hybridpaper-plastic CD package. This is because edge 42 is flat by virtue ofomitting therefrom the peripheral rim 76 which extends outwardly fromthe periphery of the other three sides, 36, 38 and 40 of each of trays12, 13. The purpose of the peripheral rim 76 is to add rigidity to theultimate package and to provide a rugged area at which the user cangrasp the CD package for opening and closing it.

One of the serious deficiencies of prior art hybrid packages has beenthat prescored fold lines and creases tend to stretch and distort andpaperboard covers tend to stretch with constant folding and unfoldingwhen the CD package is made into a book format. After some time, thealignment between the opposite plastic trays of the book is no longerreproducible, with the result that the package is no longer capable oflatching shut. To overcome this problem, in accordance with the presentinvention, the paperboard cover is applied to the assembled trays in atautly stretched condition with whatever folds and creases are necessaryto conform the paperboard to the assembled trays being formed in placeas the paperboard is stretched around the assembled trays. One way ofaccomplishing this is to tautly stretch the book covers, i.e., the firstand second panels 52, 54, generally perpendicularly to and around thespline edge 42 to bring the cover panels 52, 54 into alignment with andadjacent the undersides 78 of the trays 12, 13. A plurality of glueposts 68 are provided on the underside of each tray for receivingadhesive. In addition, dabs of adhesive are applied to the underside 78of base 26. After the paperboard cover panels 52, 54 are tautlystretched around the spline edge 42 they are placed into adhesivecontact with the adhesive on the glue posts 68 and the underside 78 ofthe base 26. Upon drying, the paperboard blank 50 has already beenstretched and the folds and creases necessary for defining the spline ofthe book have been formed in place during the adhesive bonding process.When formed in this fashion, the alignment between adjacent trays is notsubsequently lost due to stretching and folding and the resultingpackaging, upon drying of the adhesive, exhibits reproducible openingand snap closing.

While the present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design other than as definedin the appended claims.

1. A storage package for a recording medium comprising a paper boardcomponent attached to two plastic, recording medium-holding components,configured to resemble a book, said package including: A. a paper boardcomponent defining a flat panel having a pair of opposed lateral sidesand a pair of opposed transverse sides which are generally perpendicularto said lateral sides, said panel including a first panel area forattachment of a first plastic, recording medium-holding component and asecond panel area for attachment of a second plastic, recordingmedium-holding component, said first and second components beingseparated by a third panel area for defining the spine of said book; B.first and second plastic components for receiving and holding arecording medium, each of said components defining: (i) a generallyplanar surface having opposite faces for receiving and maintaining arecording medium on a first face thereof, said planar surface havingmarginal edges defining the peripheral extent of said surface, an areain the planar surface for receiving a recording medium therein and meansin said area for releasably retaining said recording medium in saidrecess; (ii) upstanding wall portions on said planar surface proximatethe marginal edges of said planar surface for defining a spacing rim forseparating peripheral marginal areas from interior areas of said planarsurface, said wall portions being positioned just inside the marginaledges of said planar surface; (iii) said wall portions on said secondcomponent being positioned a greater distance inside the marginal edgesof said planar surface than on said first component such that, when saidcomponents are brought together into first face to first face proximity,the wall portions of said second component nest within the wall portionsof said first component with the outside of the wall portions of saidsecond component immediately adjacent the inside of the wall portions ofsaid first component and the tops of the wall portions of the firstcomponent engage the marginal edges of the planar surface of said secondcomponent, the separation between the planar surfaces of said componentsbeing determined by the height of said first component wall portions;and (iv) means on said wall portions of said first and second componentsfor releasably engaging and latching said first and second componentstogether in an assembled configuration; said paperboard component beingbonded to said first and second components.
 2. A storage package, asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said generally planar surface of each ofsaid components has a circular recess formed therein for receiving saidrecording medium and a rosette within said recess for releasably holdingsaid recording medium in said recess.
 3. A storage package, as claimedin claim 2, wherein said generally planar surface of each of saidcomponents further includes diametrically opposed finger wellscommunicating with and extending outwardly from said recess for allowingthe insertion of fingers therein when removing said recording mediumfrom said recess.
 4. A storage package, as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid paper board component has dimensions substantially corresponding tothe sum of the lateral dimensions of said first and second componentsplus a transversely extending spine panel between the first and secondcomponents, said spine panel being defined by a first transverse creaseat the joinder of said first panel area and said spine panel and aparallel second transverse crease at the joinder of said spine panel andsaid second panel area, said package being pivotable about said creasesbetween a package open orientation wherein said spine and first andsecond panel areas are substantially coplanar for exposing said recessesin said first and second components to enable access thereto and apackage closed orientation wherein said spine panel extendsperpendicularly to the generally planar plastic surfaces of saidcomponents along one transverse side thereof and said first and secondpanel areas overlie the undersides of said generally planar plasticsurfaces to block access to said recesses and to protect the recordingmedia therewithin.
 5. A storage package, as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid planar surface has a pair of opposed lateral sides and a pair ofopposed transverse sides which are generally perpendicular to saidlateral sides for forming said marginal edges defining the peripheralextent of said surface.
 6. A storage package, as claimed in claim 5,wherein said wall portions are positioned just inside the marginal edgesof said planar surface and extending continuously along the opposedlateral sides, one of said transverse sides, and along transverselyspaced segments of the opposite transverse side, said spaced segmentsextending inwardly from each of the opposed lateral sides.
 7. A storagepackage, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ends of the spaced segmentsand the planar surfaces define therebetween an elongate, transverselyextending slot when said first and second components are broughttogether.
 8. A storage package for a recording medium comprising a paperboard component attached to two plastic, recording medium-holdingcomponents, configured to resemble a book, said package including: A. apaper board component defining a flat panel having a pair of opposedlateral sides and a pair of opposed transverse sides which are generallyperpendicular to said lateral sides, said panel including a first panelarea for attachment of a first plastic, recording medium-holdingcomponent and a second panel area for attachment of a second plastic,recording medium-holding component, said first and second componentsbeing separated by a third panel area for defining the spine of saidbook; B. first and second plastic components for receiving and holding arecording medium, each of said components defining: (i) a generallyplanar surface having opposite faces for receiving and maintaining arecording medium on a first face thereof, said planar surface having apair of opposed lateral sides and a pair of opposed transverse sideswhich are generally perpendicular to said lateral sides for formingmarginal edges defining the peripheral extent of said surface, an areain the planar surface for receiving a recording medium therein and meansin said area for releasably retaining said recording medium in saidrecess; (ii) upstanding wall portions on said planar surface proximatethe marginal edges of said planar surface for defining a spacing rim forseparating peripheral marginal areas from interior areas of said planarsurface, said wall portions being positioned just inside the marginaledges of said planar surface and extending continuously along theopposed lateral sides, one of said transverse sides, and alongtransversely spaced segments of the opposite transverse side, saidspaced segments extending inwardly from each of the opposed lateralsides; (iii) said wall portions on said second component beingpositioned a greater distance inside the marginal edges of said planarsurface than on said first component such that, when said components arebrought together into first face to first face proximity, the wallportions of said second component nest within the wall portions of saidfirst component with the outside of the wall portions of said secondcomponent immediately adjacent the inside of the wall portions of saidfirst component, the ends of the spaced segments and the planar surfacesdefine therebetween an elongate, transversely extending slot; and (iv)means on said wall portions of said first and second components forreleasably engaging and latching said first and second componentstogether in an assembled configuration; said paperboard component beingbonded to said first and second components with the third panel area ofsaid paperboard component adjacent the nested spaced segments of saidassembled components.
 9. A storage package, as claimed in claim 8,wherein said generally planar surface of each of said components has acircular recess formed therein for receiving said recording medium and arosette within said recess for releasably holding said recording mediumin said recess.
 10. A storage package, as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid generally planar surface of each of said components furtherincludes diametrically opposed finger wells communicating with andextending outwardly from said recess for allowing the insertion offingers therein when removing said recording medium from said recess.11. A storage package, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said paper boardcomponent has dimensions substantially corresponding to the sum of thelateral dimensions of said first and second components plus atransversely extending spine panel between the first and secondcomponents, said spine panel being defined by a first transverse creaseat the joinder of said first panel area and said spine panel and aparallel second transverse crease at the joinder of said spine panel andsaid second panel area, said package being pivotable about said creasesbetween a package open orientation wherein said spine and first andsecond panel areas are substantially coplanar for exposing said recessesin said first and second components to enable access thereto and apackage closed orientation wherein said spine panel extendsperpendicularly to the generally planar plastic surfaces of saidcomponents along one transverse side thereof and said first and secondpanel areas overlie the undersides of said generally planar plasticsurfaces to block access to said recesses and to protect the recordingmedia therewithin.
 12. A storage package for a recording mediumcomprising a paper board component attached to two plastic, recordingmedium-holding components, configured to resemble a book, said packageincluding: A. a paper board component defining a flat panel having apair of opposed lateral sides and a pair of opposed transverse sideswhich are generally perpendicular to said lateral sides, said panelincluding a first panel area for attachment of a first plastic,recording medium-holding component and a second panel area forattachment of a second plastic, recording medium-holding component, saidfirst and second components being separated by a third panel area fordefining the spine of said book; B. first and second plastic componentsfor receiving and holding a recording medium, each of said componentsdefining: (i) a generally planar surface having opposite faces forreceiving and maintaining a recording medium on a first face thereof,said planar surface having a pair of opposed lateral sides and a pair ofopposed transverse sides which are generally perpendicular to saidlateral sides for forming marginal edges defining the peripheral extentof said surface, a recess in the planar surface for receiving arecording medium therein and means in said recess for releasablyretaining said recording medium in said recess; (ii) upstanding wallportions on said planar surface proximate the marginal edges of saidplanar surface for defining a spacing rim for separating peripheralmarginal areas from interior areas of said planar surface, said wallportions being positioned just inside the marginal edges of said planarsurface and extending continuously along the opposed lateral sides, oneof said transverse sides, and along transversely spaced segments of theopposite transverse side, said spaced segments extending inwardly fromeach of the opposed lateral sides; (iii) said wall portions on saidsecond component being positioned a greater distance inside the marginaledges of said planar surface than on said first component such that,when said components are brought together into first face to first faceproximity, the wall portions of said second component nest within thewall portions of said first component with the outside of the wallportions of said second component immediately adjacent the inside of thewall portions of said first component, the separation between the planarsurfaces of said components being determined by the height of said firstcomponent wall portions; and (iv) projections positioned on the outersurface of the wall portions of the spaced segments of said secondcomponent and projections positioned at corresponding locations on theinner surface of the wall portions of the spaced segments of said firstcomponent for snap fitting one over the other for releasably engagingand latching said first and second components together in an assembledconfiguration; said paperboard component being bonded to said assembledcomponents with the third panel area of said paperboard componentadjacent the nested spaced segments of said assembled components.
 13. Astorage package, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said generally planarsurface of each of said components has a circular recess formed thereinfor receiving said recording medium and a rosette within said recess forreleasably holding said recording medium in said recess.
 14. A storagepackage, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said generally planar surfaceof each of said components further includes diametrically opposed fingerwells communicating with and extending outwardly from said recess forallowing the insertion of fingers therein when removing said recordingmedium from said recess.
 15. A storage package, as claimed in claim 12,wherein said paper board component has dimensions substantiallycorresponding to the sum of the lateral dimensions of said first andsecond components plus a transversely extending spine panel between thefirst and second components, said spine panel being defined by a firsttransverse crease at the joinder of said first panel area and said spinepanel and a parallel second transverse crease at the joinder of saidspine panel and said second panel area, said package being pivotableabout said creases between a package open orientation wherein said spineand first and second panel areas are substantially coplanar for exposingsaid recesses in said first and second components to enable accessthereto and a package closed orientation wherein said spine panelextends perpendicularly to the generally planar plastic surfaces of saidcomponents along one transverse side thereof and said first and secondpanel areas overlie the undersides of said generally planar plasticsurfaces to block access to said recesses and to protect the recordingmedia therewithin.